Apparatus for the thermal treatment of products in sealed containers



Nov. 30, 1954 P. cARvALLo 2,695,555

APPARATUS FOR THE THERMAL TREATMENT OF PRODUCTS IN SEALED CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 31, 1951 Nov. 30, 1954 P. CARVALLO 2,695,555

APPARATUS FOR THE THERMAL TREATMENT OF PRODUCTS IN SEALED CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 31, 1951 Nov. 30, 1954 P. CARVALLO 2,695,555

APPARATUS FOR THE THERMAL TREATMENT OF PRODUCTS IN SEALED CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 31, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 TAU/67170.4 (94/4 & LID

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Nov. 30,, 1954 P. CARVALLO 2,695,555

APPARATUS FOR THE THERMAL TREATMENT OF PRODUCTS IN SEALED CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 51, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EVE/V7011 W 3, Gav/e440 United States Patent Ofifice 2,695,555 Patented Nov. 3 0, 1954 APPARATUS FOR THE THERMAL TREATMENT OF PRODUCTS IN SEALED CONTAINERS Pierre Carvallo, Paris, France Application October 31, 1951, Serial No. 254,158 Claims priority, application France November 28, 1950 18Claims. (Cl. 99-.-362) The present invention has for its object an improved apparatus for the thermal treatment of products and notably of food products contained in sealed holders, such as for example tinned foods; the thermal treatment is necessary for the sterilization and, preferably, the continuous cooling and heating of the treated tins.

According to thepresent invention, the sealed containers are introduced into tubular baskets, travelling along a circuit through treating enclosures, these baskets being conveyed by means of link-chains, these chains constituting end obturators for the perforated baskets which are open at their ends, thereby facilitating the filling and discharging operations.

The chains comprise side-plates welded on the hinge pins pivoted in sockets also fast with the side-plates of the intermediate links, these intermediate links and their sockets being, preferably, obtained by casting.

The side-plates welded tothe pins are formed on one side with an extension of the pin and carry, in addi tion, insert studs surrounding the pin and formingtherewith a kind of spoon on which, in a stable manner, rest the baskets, these spoons facilitating the clearing of turns if any in the path imposed to the baskets.

The obturating chains pass round guide wheels in the turns and are inserted in guide-tracks, obtained preferably by bending sheetmetal elements, these sheet metal elements being, in addition, so shaped as to also constitute a guide-track for the basket ends.

The latter consist of ribbed sockets conveniently engaged on. the terminal portion of the perforated cylindrical walls which form the baskets.

The present invention also relates to,a sterilizing apparatus comprising the above defined obturating and conveying means.

In a first embodimentof such an apparatus, the conveying path passes through a chamber, in which water steam under pressure is fed, the inletandoutlet of this chamber resulting from the through passage of hydraulic joints which, in addition to their sealing effect, constitute heating and cooling means for the products treated.

According to a second embodiment of such an apparatus, the vconveying circuit passes through an enclosure filled with heated water under pressure, the filling. of this enclosure with hot water occurring by draw ng water from ,a compensating reserve the volume of wiich is at least equal to that ,of the bodies intro duced into the enclosure by the conveyor, when the latter is fully loaded, said compensating reserve being fed itself by the overflow of said enclosure; this enclosure under hydraulic pressure communicating with a tower acting [as a cooler through .the medium of presssure-gas insulating cap.

Both embodiments, of such an apparatus comprise, moreover, according to the present invention, a station wherein the perforated baskets are successively extracted from the conveying chain, emptied, filled and re-introduced into'the transporting circuit, the extracting, emptying, filling and introducing steps being controlled synchronously;

The following description, with reference to the attached drawings and given by way of non-restrictive example, will afford a better understanding of how this invention can be carried out in the practice. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows "in :lateral view with fragmentary broken and sectioned portions, the 'obturatingchain in the vicinityof "the end of a perforated basket.

Fig. 2 is a profile view corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows in sectional view a basket provided with obturating chains and circulating in guides.

Fig. 4 shows the diagram of a basket stopping station.

Fig. 5 shows in plane view and diagrammatically the stopping station.

Fig. 6 is a vertical front view illustrated in Fig. 5.

VIlI- ig. 7 is a section of Fig. 5 taken along line VII- Fig. 8 is a profile view of the pusher control.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical sectional view of a first embodiment of a sterilizer operating in steam under pressure.

Fig. 10 is a corresponding view from above.

Fig. 11 illustrates diagrammatically in section another embodiment of a sterilizer operating inoverpressure hot water.

The chain comprises a link 1 obtained preferably by casting and comprising hinged sockets 2 fast with the side-plates. This link may also be obtained by welding the sockets 2 on the side-plates. The sockets receive pins 3 on which are Welded lateral plates 4. One of the pins 3 protrudes from the corresponding side-plate so as to form a bearing stud 5. In the vicinity of the stud 5 are inserted, for example by welding, studs 6 slightly off-set in position with respect to the stud 5, so that the assembly of these studs will form. a concave bearing surface adapted to receive the bearing of the end portion of a conveying basket 7 with perforated walls. This conveying basket is reinforced at its ends byli'ibbed sockets 8 fitted on the ends of the perforated wa The thus constituted chain is flexible about the hinge pins, but is particularly rigid at right angles thereto. The side-plates 4 of the chain bar the exit ends of the baskets 7 led by said chain along a conveying circuit without it being necessary to provide any other obturating means.

The chains 9 and 10 [(Fig. 3) that frame the ends of the baskets carried by the studs 5, 6 pass over pinions at the points of curvature of the conveying circuit. In the straight alignments as in the curves, the chains are preferably guided in guides 11 constituted by bent sheetmetal tracks. These tracks are provided with lateral extensions 12 that cap the ends of the perforated baskets 7 or the ends of the reinforcing sockets, whereby the latter cannot escape from the guiding. in the straight alignments, therefore, as will be seen in Fig. 2 and on the left-hand portion of Fig. 4, in the upward direction, the baskets 7 are held on the studs 5 and 6 without touching or almost the. guiding walls, thereby making it possible to reduce the operating power required for moving the ,chain. In the straight downward alignments, the baskets 7 are guided by the extensions 12 and create frictions. Actually, the baskets 7 rest on the convex portions of the spoons formed by the extensions 5 and 6 and may therefore easily roll. Besides, the domed shape of said spoons creates additional guiding points that assist the baskets in, clearing the bents of the guides 12, if the feeding occurs in the direction of the arrows, the spoons being positioned at the rear of the side plates.

It will be seen that by means of these, ohturating chains the tins cannot protrude from the baskets open at their ends and create detrimental frictions.

The conveying circuits utilizing the above-described obturating chains are generally set in continuous motion, so that it is necessary to provide, at one point of the circuit, a basket-stopping station. This station is described hereunder with reference to Figs. '4 to 8.

The conveying chains, such as chain 9, are led to pass through apertures 13 of a floor ;14 adapted to retain the baskets 7. The chain -9 passes over guide wheels 15, 15a and against through the floor 14 at right angles to the re-picking up of the baskets. In the descending of the stopping station chute 15b the baskets 7 rest on convex portions of the assisting moreover this extraction. Whilst the chain continues its regular movement, the baskets 7 are held against motion side-by-side and in contiguous manner on the floor 14. These baskets 7 are presented in front of extracting pushers 17 and introducing pushers 18 the lengths of which differ by a length equal to that of a basket. The axes of these extractors are separated by a distance equal to the diameter of a basket. They are fast with a carriage 19 displaceable on rails 20 under the action of a catenary control constituted by an endless chain 21 circulating over two pinions 22 and 23 in a plane parallel to that of the rails 20. The chain carries a driving catch 24 engaged in a slot carried by an ex-- tension 25 of the carriage. Preferably, this chain is double so as to increase the strength of the action exerted by the driving catch.

The carriage 19 is thus reciprocated so as to bring about the introduction of the'pusher 17 into the basket to be emptied and the extractionof its content which is thus dumped onto an extracting conveyor 26.

Meanwhile, the pusher 18 engages a row of tins disposed in a trough 27 provided at its end with a spout facing the subsequent. basket, unloaded during a previous operation. The trough 27 is fed by a smooth feeding conveyor 28 the chute of which is normally obturated by a trap 29 opening for allowing the required number of tins to pass, these tins being disposed in a row on a fixed rail 30 parallel to the trough 27 A lifting push member 31 actuated with a swinging motion drives laterally the tins in a row on rail 30 into the trough 27. This push member may consist of a blade operated with a continuous rotary motion.

The carriage 19, the push member 31, the trap 29 and the ejector 16 are controlled in the following manner. A main shaft carries pulleys or pinions 91 and 92 which by means of belts or chains 93 and 94 control the shaft 95 driving the push member 31 and a shaft 96. The shaft 95 carries at one of its ends a lever 97 on which is fixed a pin 98 adapted to open the trap 29 which is articulated at 99 on the frame 100 of the feeding conveyor 28.

The shaft 96 carries a bevel pinion 101 which engages a bevel pinion 102 keyed on a transverse shaft 103 on which is fixed a pinion 104 controlling the endless chain or chains 21. pulley or a pinion 105 which by means of a belt or a chain 106 controls a pulley or a pinion 107 keyed on a shaft 108 which drives the guide wheel 15a. On the shaft 108 is also keyed a pulley or a pinion 109 which by means of a belt or a chain 110 controls a pulley or a pinion 111 keyed on the shaft 112 carrying the guiding wheel 15. On said shaft 112 is further keyed a pulley or a pinion 113 which .by means of a belt or a chain 114 drives a pulley or a pinion 115 fixed on the shaft 116 carrying the ejector 16. Thus the pushers, the trap, the pushing member and the ejector are actuated synchronously and become operative at the time consistent with the travelling speed of the operative chains. The pusher 18 on engaging the row of tins in suitable quantity introduces it into the aforesaid empty basket. The swinging pushers 16 transmit their movements through the bearing of the baskets against each other on the floor 14 and present the outermost basket of said floor on the spoons of the ascending side 32 ofthe chain 9 in the ascending chute 33. I

The above-described devices are advantageously applicable to the tin sterilizing apparatus for the thermal treatment of said tins. v

As may be seen in Fig. 9, the apparatus comprises an ejecting and loading station the'floor 14a of which is situated at the level of a story floor 40. The obturating chains 9a drive the baskets 7 into atower 49 leading to the bottom of the apparatus resting on foundations 45 and acting as basket introducing tower'for a sterilizing enclosure 47. At the bottom of this water-filled introducing tower there is an immersed guide pinion 48 leading the chains 9a to the inlet of the sterilizing enclosure 47 filled with water steam under pressure.

The chain 911 follows an undulated path inside the enclosure 47 and comes out therefrom by passing over a guide wheel 46 situated at the bottom of a cooling tower 44 also filled with water in view of returning it to the extraction station, after passing through a vat 41 which acts as auxiliary cooling enclosure, along a circuit made sinuous by baffles 42 and 43.

Said shaft 96 further carries a The floor 50 of the sterilizing enclosure 47 is situated above the water levels of the inlet and outlet towers corresponding to the towers 44 and 49, this level establishing itself at that height on account of the steam pressure. The water vats constituting the bottoms of these towers are interconnected through a pipe 51 communicating on the other hand with a chamber 52 .containing a float 53. This float is connected through a control not shown to a valve 54 for regulating the admission of pressure steam introduced into the enclosure 47 through a duct 55.

The above-described apparatus operates as follows:

The cold tins introduced into the circuit descend through the introducing tower 49 and are gradually heated 'on contacting the water the temperature of which rises up to a maximum corresponding to the surface separating this water from the steam in the sterilizing enclosure 47. The tins are hot when they come out from the enclosure and meet the cool water in cooling tower 44. This water is gradually heated by correspondingly absorbing the heat from the tins which come out tepid from the top of this tower. They complete their cooling along the baifle circuit of vat or auxiliary cooling enclosure 41. The cool water penetrates, at 80a, is heated on cooling the tins from 8011 to 51, is cooled on heating the tins from 51 to 81a and comes out at 81a. This integral counter-current arrangement provides the best possible thermal efficiency. In case of insuflicient cooling water output or in case of corrosive water it is interesting to re-circulate the waters by causing them to pass from 81a to 80a after refrigerating through a suitable apparatus;

When the water tends, to rise in the chamber 52 the float 53 causes the valve 54 to open and inversely. Any water rise corresponds to a reduction in steam pressure and therefore in the temperature that a fresh steam injection will step up. In Fig. 9, it will be seen that all the paths are vertical, whereby reducing to a minimum the stirring of the containers during their treatment, a

. circumstance favorable for certain products such as preserved peas and fish.

The enclosures and towers are encircled by truss girders 84 for resisting the pressure, and the higher the pressures the closer the truss girders.

As may be seen in Fig. 11, the sterilizing apparatus may be of the type wherein the temperature reached is independent of a counter-pressure applied to the tins for preventing the latter from swelling. Whereas in the steam sterilizing apparatus, the pressure applied externally to the tins is imperatively dependent on the temperature attained, if the tins are sterilized in hot water, they may receive a pressure above that of the water steam tension at the temperature considered. 2

For this purpose, the handling circuit comprises an introduction tower 60 whereby the tins are led to a sinuous circuit within an enclosure 61. This sinuous circuit emerges into an exit tower 62 forming a reversed siphon unprimed by insulating gas lock 63. The second branch 64 of this siphon emerges into an enclosure 65 with a sinuous circuit isolated by baflies 66, this circuit comprising an exit tower 67. The tower 67 is fed with cold water admitted from 80. The enclosure 65 is provided with a compensating duct 68 for evacuating the hot water from 81. The enclosure 61 is fed with hot water by a steam nozzle 69 receiving steam from a pipe .70 and water from a pipe 71. This nozzle is disposed at the bottom of the enclosure 61. I

The pipe 71 is fed with water from a vat 72 into which flows the upper overflow 82 of tower 60, the volume of this vat 72 being at least equal to that of the products to be sterilized likely to be introduced into the enclosure 61, when the chain 9b is completely filled with full baskets 7. The height of the tower 60 determines the pressure inside the enclosure 61 independently of the temperature therein, so that the swelling of the tins can be restricted through this means. This enclosure could moveover be heated by means of a steam coil 73 placed at its bottom. While descending in the tower 60 the tins are subjected to a methodical pre-heating. The circuits in 61 are horizontal whereby ensuring a continuous rotation of the tins which is advantageous for certain products such as peeled tomatoes, milk, etc.

By passing through the lock 63 the tins are extracted from the sterilizing enclosure and pass into the cooling.

enclosure 65 followed by the tower 67 whereby this coolingis completed. The water head in the towers 67 and aces-cs 68 is equal to that in tower lid-whereby the balanceof the levels is maintainedwithin mellow-.63.; Tbisalock may be fed with compressed air through apipe 83 for unpriming purposes, if: desired.

. Towers 414 and 49 of Fig. 9-as wejll as'tower 6-7 of Fig. Here as narrow-as possible so that the baskets pass as near as possible to the walls whereby avoidingthe formation by density of water currents which would :be detrimental to the proper operation of the thermal countercurrents.

It will be understood that, without departing from the scope of the present invention, modifications could be brought to the embodiments just described.

.What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for thermal treatment. of foodstuds in containers and of the type comprising an enclosure having an inlet and an outlet and containing a thermal treating fl id, and a pair of guiding tracks respectively arranged in parallel closed circuits positioned in vertical planes within the enclosure, :theconrbination of a pair of continuously driven chains respectively disposed along the closed circuits formed by 'the guiding tracks, between said guiding tracksand in guiding relationship with the same, pushing members regularly distributed upon said chains and projecting between the same, tubular baskets open at eachend, unattached to the chains, filled with containers and located between two successive push members of each of the vchains for being propelled along said closed circuits by -athe pushing action of said pushing members, the guiding tracks being respectively formed with horizontal portions inserted between successive descending and-ascending portions .of said tracks and in register with the inlet :and the outlet of the enclosure, said chains traversing the lower edges of the tracks in said horizontal portions through apertures avoiding the passage of the baskets, the width of the links of said chains being large enough with respectto the inner diameter of the baskets so as to avoid accidental ejection of the containers from said baskets during their dis placement into the treatment apparatus, whereby said links act as obturators {for said baskets, means for, on the first part, ejectinguthe baskets one by one from the descending portions of the chains when .said chains traverse the lower edges of the horizontal portion of said tracks, on the second part, displacing said :baskets in contacting relationship along said horizontal portion and, on the third part, introducing said baskets one by .one into the ascending portions of the chains, means for extracting the containers enclosed in each of said baskets when located in said horizontal portions in registered relationship with "the outlet of the enclosure, means for filling each of said baskets with containers after such an extraction when said basket is located in said horizontal portions in registered relationship with the inlet of the enclosure, means for supplying said inlet with rows of containers to be respectively inserted in said baskets, means for continuously driving said chains, and means for actuating the preceding means in a strictly sequentially timed order. n

2. An equipment, according to claim 1, wherein the means for ejecting the baskets from the descending portions of the chains comprises an ejector periodically acting for driving out a basket from the descending portions of the chains when said chains pass through the lower edges of the horizontal portions of the guiding tracks, said ejector acting simultaneouslyfor periodically displacing the baskets supported by said horizontal portions in contacting relationship and for introducing the same, one by one into the ascending portions of the chains in contact relationship with the pushing members of said ascending portions, and means forperiodically actuating said ejector. n

3. An equipment, according to claim .2, wherein each pushing member comprises, for each link of the chains, one of the pins which protrude from the side .of the corresponding chain which faces the other chain and complementary studs carried by said chain and positioned on either side of said pin for forming with the latter :a domed spoon adapted to receive the corresponding end of the baskets in the ascending portion of the chain, the convex part of said pushing member on which bears the basket in the descending portion of the chain assisting the ejection of the basket by the ejector.

Y 4. An equipment, according to claim 1,, wherein the extracting and filling means compriserailsparallel :to the axis .ofythe baskets, a carriage reciprocally displaeeable on said rails, an extracting pusher anden introducing pusher carried by said carriage, the length of said pushers differing by a length equal to -that: of a basket and their axes being separated by a distance equal to the diameter of a basket, said pushers being respectively alignedwith the outlet and inlet of the disclosure, and means for re-' ciprocally displacing: said carriage on said rails.

5. An equipment, according to claim 4, wherein the reciprocating means comprises a catenary control including an endless chain, two pinions located in a plane par.- allel to that of the rails for engaging said endless-chain, a driving catch carried by said chain, a control member fast with the carriage and formed with a slot perpendicu lar to said rails and inwh-ichtengages said catch, and means for continuously driving .said chain.

6. An equipment, according to claim 1, wherein; the supplying means comprises a trough .in alignment with the filling means and the inlet of the enclosure and having a length sufiicient for containing a row of containers to be introduced in one basket, a conveyor parallel to said trough for propelling containers to be treated, a fixed rail in alignment with said conveyor, a trap inserted between said conveyor and said fixed rail, means for opening said trap during the time necessary for, feeding said fixed rail with a row of containers the length of which is at the most equal to the length of a basket, a lifting push-member periodically operated for driving laterally the row of containers from the fixed rail into the trough, and means for periodically actuating said push-member.

7. In an apparatus for thermal treatment of foodstuffs in containers and of the type comprising an enclosure having an inlet and an outlet and containing .a. thermal treating fluid, and a pair of guiding tracks re spectively arrangedin'parallel closed-=circuits positioned in vertical planes within the enclosure, the combination of a pair of continuously driven chains respectively disposed along the closed circuits formed by the guiding tracks, between said guiding tracks and in guiding relationship with the same, pushing members regularlyydis tributed upon said chains and projecting between .thesame, tubular baskets open at each end, unattached to the chains, filled with containers and located between two successive push members of each of the chains forbeing propelled along saidclosed circuits by the pushing action of ,said push-ing members, the guiding tracks being re spectively formed with: horizontal portions inserted between successive descending and ascending portions of said tracks and in register with the inlet and the outlet voi? the enclosure, said chains traversing the lower edges of the tracks in said horizontal portions through apertures avoiding the passage of the baskets, the width of the links of said chains being large enough with respect :to the inner diameter of the baskets so as to avoid accidental ejection of the containers from said baskets during their displacement into the treatment apparatus, whereby said links act as obturators for said baskets, :an ejector periradically-acting for drivingout a basket from the descend ing portions of the chains when said chains pass through the lower edges of the horizontal portions of the guiding tracks, said ejector acting simultaneously forperiodieally displacing the baskets supported by said horizontal portions in contacting relationship and for introducing the same one by one into the ascending portions of the chains in contact relationship with the pushing members of said ascending portions, means for periodically actuating said ejector, rails parallel to the axis of the baskets, a-carr-iage reciprocally displaceable on said rails, an extracting pusher and ,a filling pusher carried by said carriage, the length of said pushers differing by a length equal to that of a basket and their axes being separated by a distance equal to the diameter of a basket, said pushers being respectively aligned with the outlet and inlet of the enclosure, means for reciprocally displacing said carriage on said rails, a trough in alignment with the filling pusher and having a length sufficient for containing a row of containers :to be introduced in one basket, a conveyor parallel to said. trough for propelling containers to be treated, a fixed rail in alignment withsaid conveyor, a trap inserted between said conveyor and said 'fixedrail, means for-opening said trap during the time necessary ,-for feeding said fixed rail with a row of containers the length of which is at the most equal to the length of a basket, a lifting :pushamember periodically operated tor driving laterallythe row of containers from the fixed rail into the trough, means for periodically actuating said push member, means forcontinuously driving said chains, and means foractuating the preceding means in a strictly sequentially timed order.

t 8. In an apparatus for the sterilization of cooling under pressure of foodstuflis in containers, the combination of a heating tower filled with water and'having a water outlet at its upper part, a cooling tower filled with water, at least one pipe interconnecting the bottoms of said towers, a sterilizing enclosure containing water steam under pressure and communicating with said towers, the floor of said steam enclosure being situated above each of the pipes, means for maintaining the level of the water in the communication between the enclosure and the towers under the level of the floor of said enclosure and over the level of each of the interconnecting pipes, a cooling vat at the upper part'of said cooling tower formed with baffles, a water inlet at the top of said vat, a pair of guiding tracks arranged in parallel closed circuits positioned in vertical planes and passing successively from said heat ing tower to said sterilizing enclosure, said cooling tower and said cooling vat, and returning to said heating tower, said tracks between the cooling-vat and the heating tower being respectively formed with horizontal portions inserted between successivedescending and ascending portions for forming a charging and extracting station, a pair of continuously driven chains respectively disposed along the closed circuits formed by the guiding tracks, between said guiding tracks and in guiding relationship with the same, pushing members regularly distributed upon said chains and projecting between the same, tubular baskets open at each end, unattached to the chains, filled with containers and located between two successive push members of each of the chains for being propelled along said closed circuits by the pushing action of said pushing members, said chains further traversing the lower edges of the tracks in said horizontal portions through apertures avoiding the passage of the baskets, the width of the links of said chains being large enough with respect to the inner diameter of the baskets so as to avoid accidental ejection of the containers from said baskets during their displacement into the treatment apparatus, whereby said links act as obturators for said baskets, means for extracting the containers from the baskets in said charging and extracting station, means for introducing containers into the baskets in said charging and ex tracting station, means for supplying containers to said introducing means, and truss girders encircling said towers and said enclosure for resisting the pressure.

9. An apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein the means for maintaining the level of the water in the communication between the enclosure and the towersv under the level of the floor of the enclosure and over the level of each of the interconnecting pipes comprises a chamber communicating with each of the pipes, a float in said chamber, a duct for introducing pressure steam into the enclosure, a valve inserted in said duct, and a connection means between said float and said valve, whereby any water rise in said chamber corresponding to a reduction in steam pressure is stepped up by a fresh steam injection.

10. An apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein the path followed by the guiding tracks is only formed with vertical portions, so that the stirring of the containers enclosed into the basket during their treatment is reduced to a minimum, whereby the sterilizing apparatus is advantageous for the treatment of preserved peas and fish.

11,. An apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein the towers have dimensions slightly greater than those of the baskets so that the latter pass as near as possible to their walls, whereby avoiding the formation by density of water currents which would be detrimental to the proper operation of the thermal counter currents obtained in the apparatus.

12. In an apparatus for the sterilization and cooling under pressure of foodstuffs in containers, the combination of a heating tower filled with water and having a water outlet at its upper part, a sterilizing enclosure connected with the bottom of said heating tower, a steam nozzle disposed at the bottom of said enclosure for feeding the same with hot water, a steam pipe and a water pipe connected with said steam nozzle, a cooling enclosure, an exit tower the bottom of which communicates with the top of said cooling enclosure and which has a water inlet at its upper part, a compensating tower connectedwith the bottom of said cooling enclosure and hav; ing at itsupper part at the level of the outlet of said heating tower an'outlet for evacuating the hot water from said cooling enclosure, a gas lock inserted between the outlet of the sterilizing enclosure and the inlet of the cooling enclosure for isolating said enclosures, a vat connected with said water pipe for feeding the same and into which flows the upper overflow of the heating tower, a pair of guiding tracks respectively arranged in parallel closed circuits positioned in vertical planes and passing successively from said heating tower to said sterilizing enclosure, said gas-lock, said cooling enclosure and said exit tower, andreturning to said heating tower, said tracks between the exit tower and the heating tower being respectively formed with horizontal portions inserted between successive descending and ascending portions for forming a charging and extracting station, a pair of continuously driven chains respectively disposed along the closed circuits formed by the guiding tracks, between said guiding tracks and in guiding relationship with the same, pushing members regularly distributed upon said chains and projecting between the same, tubular baskets open at each end, unattached to the chains, filled with containers and located between two successive push members of each of the chains for being propelled along said closed circuits'by the pushing action of said pushing members, said chains further traversing the lower edges of the tracks in said horizontal portions through apertures avoiding the passage'of the baskets, the width of the links of said chains being large enough with respect to the inner diameter of the baskets so as to avoid acci dental ejection of the containers from said baskets during their displacement into the treatment apparatus, whereby said links act as obturators for said baskets, means for extracting the containers from the baskets in said charging and extracting station, means for introducing containers into the baskets in said charging and extracting station, and means for'supplying containers to said introducing means, the volume of said vat being at least equal to that of the products to be sterilized when said guiding tracks are fed with baskets filled with containers.

13. An apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein the gas lock comprises a reversed siphon the branches of which respectively communicate with the sterilizing enclosure and the cooling enclosure, and a compressed air for unpriming the same.

14. An apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein the path followed by the guiding tracks in the sterilizing and the cooling enclosures is formed with successive horizontal portions so that a continuous rotation of the containers enclosed into the basket is obtained, whereby the sterilizing apparatus is advantageous for the treatment of peeled tomatoes and milk. V

15. An apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein the towers have dimensions slightly greater than those of the baskets so that the latter passes as near as possible to their walls, whereby avoiding the formation by density of water currents which would be detrimental to the proper operation of the thermal counter-currents obtained in the apparatus.

16. In an apparatus for the treatment of foodstuffs in containers and of the type comprising an enclosure containing a treating fluid and a pair of driven chains formed with regularly spaced carrying members and respectively disposed along parallel closed circuits positioned in vertical planes within the enclosure; the improvement which comprises tubular baskets open at each end, adapted to receive containers to be treated and having a length slightly less than the distance existing between the parallel chains, said baskets being conveyed along the paths of said chains by said carrying members while the links of said chains are large enough with respect to the inner diameter of said baskets for obturating the same with a view to avoid any accidental ejection of the containers contained therein, means for transversely displacing each basket with respect to the paths of said chains at a determined point of said paths for disengaging their ends from said links with a view to allow the unloading and loading of said baskets with containers, and means for replacing said baskets along said paths after the loading operation so that said links obturate the ends of the newly loaded baskets.

17. In an apparatus for the sterilization and cooling under pressure of foodstuffs in containers of the type comprlsmg an introducing tower filled with water and used pipe communicating with the top 'of said reversed siphon for introducing containers to be treated into a sterilizing enclosure containing a sterilizing fluid under pressure, and a cooling tower having an outlet end for extracting the containers treated in said enclosure; the improvement which comprises an auxiliary cooling enclosure disposed at the outlet end of the cooling tower and through which pass the containers extracted from said cooling tower, and means for introducing water at the outlet end of said auxiliary cooling enclosure, said water passing through said auxiliary cooling enclosure, said cooling tower and said introducing tower in counter-current direction to the paths followed by the containers through said towers and said auxiliary cooling circuit, so that the path followed by the water circulating in counter-current direction has a length substantially greater than the sum of the heights of the introducing and cooling towers.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the towershave dimensions slightly greater than those of the baskets so that the latter pass as near as possible to their 10 walls, whereby avoiding the formation by density of water currents which would be detrimental to the proper operation of the thermal counter-currents obtained in the apparatus.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 764,657 Clasmann July 12, 1904 767,960 Ruff Aug. 16, 1904 805,844 Dunkley Nov. 28, 1905 806,266 King Dec. 5, 1905 2,295,846 Horner Sept. 15, 1942 2,355,100 Nordquist Aug. 8, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 106,020 Australia Nov. 30, 1938 

